Abstract

The mortality rate of chronic dialysis patients in the United States is 24% per year per the 2006 United States Renal Data System. Although there have been marked improvements in dialysis technology, cardiovascular disease is the principal cause of mortality in end-stage renal disease patients. Inflammation and left ventricular hypertrophy both contribute to atherosclerosis. Hemodialysis 3 times a week is the most commonly used form of dialysis in the United States. The multicenter hemodialysis (HEMO) study hypothesized that an increase in dialysis dose and use of high-flux membranes would improve mortality and decrease morbidity. This study failed to show decreases in mortality. In other studies, however, there appears to be improved morbidity with more frequent dialysis including daily nocturnal hemodialysis and short-daily hemodialysis. The more frequent dialysis may have some beneficial effect on the inflammatory process that occurs in end-stage renal disease.